Skrtel to lead Slovakia at maiden Euro finals

Germany's midfielder Julian Brandt (left) and Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel vie for the ball during the friendly football match between Germany and Slovakia in Augsburg, southern Germany, on May 29, 2016. PHOTO | AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • At their first Euro finals ever, Slovakia, led by Skrtel, will face Wales, Russia and England in Group B in France.
  • France head coach Dider Deschamps has confirmed that he will not add Mamadou Sakho to his Euro-2016 squad.
  • Uefa are yet to announce their decision on when Sakho can come back.

Bratislava

Slovakia coach Jan Kozak on Monday named a 23-man squad for Euro 2016, led by captain and Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel and Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik.

Kozak said he had cut a provisional 27-man squad to 23 players after Sunday’s friendly in which Slovakia stunned Germany 3-1 in Augsburg.

“I could see all players were healthy enough to go to the tournament,” the 62-year-old said after saying good-bye to Almaty defender Lukas Tesak, midfielders Matus Bero of Trencin and Erik Sabo of PAOK, and Slovan Bratislava striker Adam Zrelak.

“There’s a backup for each position and some players can play in several positions,” Kozak told reporters.

At their first Euro finals ever, Slovakia, led by Skrtel, will face Wales, Russia and England in Group B in France.

At the same time, France head coach Dider Deschamps has confirmed that he will not add Mamadou Sakho to his Euro-2016 squad, even if the centre-back is allowed to return to action after serving a provisional drugs ban.

Sakho has been a key player for Euro hosts France at the heart of their defence in the last couple of years, but he was given a 30-day suspension after failing a drugs test while playing in the Europa League for Liverpool.

PLENTY OF PROBLEMS

Deschamps has plenty of problems at the back, with Sakho’s first-choice partner Raphael Varane, and Barcelona’s Jeremy Mathieu, being ruled out of the tournament through injuries.

Uefa are yet to announce their decision on when Sakho can come back, but Deschamps said that he would keep faith in the players he named in his initial squad.

“Seriously? No. Or I have no respect for the players I selected,” the coach said when asked if he’d bring back Sakho.

“When I decided (on the squad), there was no evidence that the end (for Sakho) would be positive, even if it needed confirmation.”

Deschamps, who captained France to triumph in Euro 2000, on Saturday called up uncapped Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti to take the place of Mathieu.

France were set to play Cameroon in a friendly in Nantes yesterday as they continue to prepare for the opening match of the finals at the Stade de France against Romania on June 10.